When tickets for Keith Urban’s show next Sept. 3 at Allentown Fair went on sale Saturday – the earliest ever by at least two months for a fair show – some expressed surprise that the show not only didn’t become the fastest sellout in the fair’s history, but didn’t even sell out in one day.

As of late Monday, the best tickets available were in row 16 of the grandstand’s 27 rows. If my math is correct, that means something less than 2,000 of the fair's 10,000 seats still are available.

But why hasn’t Urban sold out faster? He’s undeniably hot right now: His latest album, “Defying Gravity,” has gone gold, produced three No. 1 songs, a No. 3 song and the latest charting single, “Til Summer Comes Around.” He has, in the past two weeks, performed on the “Today” show and “Late Night with David Letterman.”

And on Sunday, he performed on the American Music Awards and won Favorite Country Artist Male.

So here are the Top 5 reasons Keith Urban hasn’t sold out his Allentown Fair show:

5. The early sales are a double-edged sword: While the early sale date takes advantage of Urban’s high profile and the upcoming holiday gift-giving season, it also has the drawback of being more than nine months before the show. Sales for Allentown Fair shows typically pick up as the fair gets closer, for a variety of reasons, including that its shows are outdoors and subject to weather.

Tim McGraw’s 2005 record fastest sellout came in February. The second-fastest sellout, in one day for Britney Spears and 98 Degrees, came at the end of May.

4. The economy:

Adding to that uncertainty about ticket-buying this year is the continued unease about the economy. Ticket sales in general are down, and ticket/concert giant LiveNation discounted sales prices all summer to fill venues. The top ticket price for Urban is $75, and that’s a tougher sell in these times.

Melissa J. Moser/Special to The Morning Call

3. Other area concerts: Fair Marketing Director Bonnie Brosious noted that tickets for John Mayer at Wachovia Center in Philadelphia and Puddle of Mudd/Skillet alsowent on sale Saturday and was concerned they dipped into Urban's sales. Urban cuts across genres and his fans are fans of other music, she ssaid.

2. Tim McGraw: Tickets for a show by McGraw, the guy who holds the fair’s fastest-sale record, at Reading’s Sovereign Center also went on sale Saturday. Two big country stars selling tickets for area concerts at the same time.

1. Unfair expectations: When it comes right down to it, expectations that Urban would break the record were unfair. In the history of the fair, just two acts have sold out in one day. Even the Jonas Brothers two years ago didn’t sell out till close to their performance.

Urban sold out all the closest tickets to the fair show in minutes Saturday, and more than 5,000 in the first hour. That’s twice what McGraw did for his return performance at the fair last year. More than 100 people were waiting at the fair gate to buy their seats – twice what McGraw drew last year.

Don’t worry, Urban will sell out, if not today, then in the next couple of days.And in doing so, because of his higher ticket price, he’ll also finally set another record:the fair box office’s highest gate receipts, which the Jonas Brothers now own at $700,000.

KEITH URBAN, with opening act to be announced, Sept. 3, 2010. Tickets, $75 (sold out) and $65 for reserved seats (track seats and grandstand chairs) and $55 for general admission (side track seats and grandstand bleacher seats. At the Fair Box Office 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, online at Ticketmaster.com, over the phone at 800-745-3000 and at Ticketmaster Centers

Why does every single media outlet blame the economy whenever something doesn't sell as well as expected. It's just a cop out, pure and simple. Plenty of other concerts around the country are still selling out immediately and people are happily dishing out their money for the same types of extravagances as before.

If Keith Urban was as popular as the promoters thought he was in this area, it would have sold out. Stop trying to blame the economy.

Posted By: Enough with the economy already | Nov 24, 2009 7:42:30 AM

I saw Keith Urban on the American Music Awards and he was terribly bland. Definitely an attraction for girls, but from a guys perspective, Urban is awful.

Posted By: ZZ | Nov 24, 2009 8:45:21 AM

I don't see why there is a need to explain why Urban didn't sell out the concert tix. This is a concert that is 9 months away. I don't even know what I am going to do 9 months away. I think the good news is that he was able to sell 8,000+ in one day is a great show of star power. So what if Tim McGraw tix and other artist went on sale the same day. Their concerts are closer to their tix sale than Urban's. The fact is the concert will sell out, but I think the tix were put on sale prematurely. To expect a Christmas crowd to buy as gifts is foolish because people are still being frugal about gifts due to the ECONOMY.

Posted By: Bobby | Nov 24, 2009 1:51:33 PM

I have seen Keith Urban in concert and he is amazing and full of energy. It was one of the best concerts I have ever seen and I have easily seen over 200 concerts and they were all big names. I think alot has to do with the venue and so far in advance. The Allentown Fair's seating is horrible and their sound system sucks. Had this concert been anywhere else, in a heartbeat we would have bought tickets. And yes I did buy Tim McGraw tixs for February 21st!!!!!

Posted By: capt2204 | Nov 24, 2009 7:23:00 PM

Keith Urban bland? Why, because he didn't have a whole tribe of half naked guys and girls gyrating around on stage with him. He was one of the few decent acts on the show. There are many guys at his shows. Guys that have an appreciation for skilled guitar work. Go see him. You will change your mind. Also, it really is rare for a concert to truly sell out. I've been to many sold out shows that tickets were available the day of. Its just part of marketing to say the show is sold out. The venue very often holds back tickets and then releases more later on.

Posted By: Jen | Nov 24, 2009 7:24:52 PM

THE GRANDSTAND DOES SUCK. Unfortunately, the tickets are expensive, why buy expensive tickets if the seating is HORRIBLE. and yes. seating is HORRIBLE at Allentown Grandstand. Keith Urban is AMAZING, and I can't wait to see him in concert. I wish we had another venue for music concerts here, and not just Allentown Fair. and........Tickmaster sucks...big time.

Posted By: Jenny | Nov 24, 2009 9:22:24 PM

Keith Urban and the word "bland" don't belong in the same sentence. His concerts are high energy and his guitar skills are incredible! His performance of "Kiss A Girl" on the AMAs was terrific but not a true reflection of what he does in concert ... I just saw him at Madison Square Garden and he was amazing!

Posted By: rick | Nov 26, 2009 10:17:53 AM

There is nothing country about Keith Urban, I want a country concert, not an act that sings love sick pop songs.

He latest album got awful reviews cause of all the love, syrup songs that are nothing but pop.

Keith is no way a country act.

Posted By: Dana | Nov 26, 2009 11:11:27 AM

Keith Urban's latest Album is packed with wonderful music. The man is a truly talented performer, singer and musician. His concerts are an amazing experience. I have been to several and no one else even compares. I have seen quite a few others over the years and No one has the talent or energy that Keith Urban puts in every performance. Award shows aren't really a true picture of what an artist can or does do in concert. Keith Urban is definitely Country, my kind of country for sure, and I have been a country fan for years.

Posted By: A Johnson | Nov 30, 2009 8:54:34 PM

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JOHN J. MOSER has been around long enough to have seen the original Ramones in a small club in New Jersey, U2 from the fourth row of a theater and Bob Dylan's born-again tours. But he also has the number for All-American Rejects' Nick Wheeler on his cell phone, wrote the first story ever done on Jack's Mannequin and hung out in Wiz Khalifa's hotel room.

OTHER CONTRIBUTORS

JODI DUCKETT: As The Morning Call's assistant features editor responsible for entertainment, she spends a lot of time surveying the music landscape and sizing up the Valley's festivals and club scene. She's no expert, but enjoys it all — especially artists who resonated in her younger years, such as Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, Tracy Chapman, Santana and Joni Mitchell.

KATHY LAUER-WILLIAMS enjoys all types of music, from roots rock and folk to classical and opera. Music has been a constant backdrop to her life since she first sat on the steps listening to her mother’s Broadway LPs when she was 2. Since becoming a mother herself, she has become well-versed on the growing genre of kindie rock and, with her son in tow, can boast she has seen a majority of the current kid’s performers from Dan Zanes to They Might Be Giants.

STEPHANIE SIGAFOOS: A Jersey native raised in Northeast PA, she was reared in a house littered with 8-tracks, 45s and cassette tapes of The Beatles, Elvis, Meatloaf and Billy Joel. She also grew up on the sounds of Reba McEntire, Garth Brooks and Tim McGraw and can be found traversing the countryside in search of the sounds of a steel guitar. A fan of today's 'new country,' she digs mainstream/country-pop crossovers like Lady Antebellum and Sugarland and other artists that illustrate the genre's diversity.